Not many people are aware of the fact that they can buy impounded cars just like any other used car, but with greater chances for a plum discount. Read on to discover all basic facts you need to know about impounded cars and how to find them. The car's ex-owner Naturally, you want to know who the vehicle's former owner was and what happened that it was impounded.

Some people are just not too comfortable with the idea that it was a criminal. Most of the impounded cars belonged to ordinary people, not killers or gangsters, and the reason they were seized is installment payment default or driving with license suspended (DWLS). Of course, police does impound serious criminals' vehicles as well, but it does not happen as often as you might imagine. Where to Buy Impounded Cars? Specially organized impounded (or seized) auto auctions are where you can get such a car.

The auctions are frequently held by an auction company on behalf of a lending institution or the police. They are announced in local newspapers and on local TV channels as well as websites, though do not expect a loud advertising campaign. The Advantages In order to buy an impounded car you do not have to save money for ages. The starting bids are incredibly low and depending on the number of people involved in bidding, the closing price may still be quite low.

The purpose of these auctions is to clear up the storage space as new impounds happen daily. You are allowed a vehicle inspection, and can expect many of them to be in a perfect running condition. History reports are provided for each auctioned car, and there is simply no reason for anybody to cheat you on this. The Drawbacks When you buy an impounded car, you accept it "as is" and cannot claim your money back on any ground. If you failed to see the defects during the preliminary inspection, there is nobody to blame.

The biggest turn-off is that normally test drive is not allowed. Participation Rules Most of the auctions require you to register in order to be allowed to bid. The registration may be free or paid.

You have to be over 18 and possess a valid driving license to participate in the auction. And make sure you are ready to pay immediately in case your bid wins. A Word of Advice It is not easy to follow the pace of the auction if you are new to it. Give yourself time and attend a few just like that. Familiarize yourself with the second-hand auto market and its prices. Bring a professional mechanic along for the preliminary car check - this way you have more chances to buy an impounded car of good quality.

Discover more tips about seized car auctions such as where to find cheap seized car auctions near your home. Also, read to find out even more on seized car auctions.